Musical instrument



Sept. 25, 1962 J. A. MARSICH MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 24, 1959 N GE INVENTOR.

JOSEPH A. MARSICH y mwzw Sept. 25, 1962 J. A. MARSICH 3,055,252

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed D60. 24, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

INVENT OR.

JOSEPH A. MARSICH 3,055,252 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Joseph A. Marsich, 617 S. 31st St., Omaha, Nebr. Filed Dec. 24, 59, Ser. No. 861,837 2 Claims. (Ci. 84--4l 4) This invention relates to musical instruments of the key actuated type and in which striking one end of a pivotally mounted key causes a hammer on the opposite end to strike a bar, and in particular a keyboard with the keys arranged similar to the keys of a typewriter in which the keys are pivotally mounted in a vertical partition and positioned so that hammers on inner ends thereof strike metal bars of different lengths, and wherein the parts are enclosed in a cabinet, in the lower end of which is a fan for circulating air over the bars to facilitate carrying musical tones from the cabinet.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a musical instrument having a keyboard in which the keys are arranged to simulate a typewriter keyboard whereby persons having difficulty in learning the piano keyboard, and knowing the typewriter keyboard may play musical selections from music having the letters of the alphabet in combination with the conventional notes thereon.

Many people are required to learn the typewriter keyboard whereas comparatively few know the keyboard of the piano, and it is believed that if musical selections could be reproduced by persons knowing the typewriter keyboard such musical instruments would be used universally. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a cabinet having bars of material for producing musical tones and keys for striking said bars wherein the keys are arranged to represent the keyboard of a typewriter.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a musical instrument having a keyboard, pivotally mounted keys, and bars positioned to be engaged by hammers of the keys and of material for producing musical tones when struck by the hammers in which the keys are arranged to represent the keyboard of a typewriter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument having bars of material that produces musical tones with keys arranged like the keys of a typewriter for actuating hammers to strike the bars in which a fan is provided for circulating air over the bars and discharging the air from the cabinet.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved instrument of the character described which has a keyboard whereby the keys are manipulated by the operators fingers and means connected to and actuated by the keys to strike bars to produce musical sounds.

A further object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument having a typewriter keyboard in which musical tone producing bars are struck by hammers actuated by the keys in which the instrument is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a cabinet having a typewriter keyboard at the front with pivotally mounted keys positioned whereby hammers on inner ends thereof strike musical tone producing bars and in which air is circulated over the bars by a fan in the lower part of the cabinet.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the improved musical instrument with the cover and music holding rack in the open position.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view through the instrument taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view illustrating the operating elements in the upper portion of the cabinet of the instrument.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the instrument also with the cover in the open postion.

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view through the upper portion of the instrument showing slots in a partition through which bars extend, the section being taken on line 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional plan view through the instrument taken on line 66 of FIGURE 1.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the above-referred-to drawings, it is to be understood hat they are merely for the purpose of illustration, and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any manner departing from the spirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims. And while there is stated the primary field of utility of the invention it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

In the accompanying drawings, and in the following specification, the same reference characters are used to designate the same parts and elements throughout, and in which the numeral 10 refers to the invention in its entirety, numeral 12 indicating keys, such as the keys of a typewriter, numeral 14 indicating L-shaped levers on which the keys are positioned, numeral 16 pins for pivotally mounting the levers in a partition 18 of a cabinet 26*, numeral 22 bars extended from the levers and on the ends of which pads 24, providing hammers, are positioned, numeral 26 bars positioned on cleats 23 freely mounted on plates 3% and extended through slots 32 in a partition 34 in an upper section 36 of the cabinet, and numeral 38 a fan driven by a motor 40 in a lower section 42 of the cabinet.

The cabinet is supported by legs 44 which extend from a base 46, and the lower portion of the cabinet is provided with a front wall 48 having a grille 50 therein, a rear wall 52, side walls 54 and an upper panel 56. The motor it) is mounted on the base 46, and a cord '58 extends from the motor to a switch 60* at the front of the cabinet. Another cord 62. having a plug 64 on the end thereof extends to a source of current supply.

The upper section 36 of the cabinet is provided with a lower panel 66 having openings 68 therein, and the openings are in registering relation with an opening 7 0 in the upper panel 56 of the lower section. The upper section is provided with an inclined panel 72 through which the key levers 14 extend, a front panel 74, a rear panel 76, side panels 78 and 80, and a cover 82. The cover 82, which is provided with a music holding cleat 84, is connected by a hinge 86 to an upper panel 83, and the upper panel is provided with a grille 90.

The partition 34 may be formed of, or provided with felt which functions as cushioning means providing a damper, and the damper is slidably mounted between rails 92 on the inner surfaces of the side panels 78 and 8%. The partition or damper 34 is actuated vertically by a platform 94 which is connected to the damper by arms 96 and 98 which extend through and are pivotally mounted in the partition 18.

The keyboard assembly includes side panels 100 and 102 to which ends of the partition 18 are connected, as shown in FIGURE 6.

Operation With the parts assembled as illustrated and described and with the fan operating, the keys 12 are actuated by the fingers of the hands of an operator whereby the hammers 24- strike the tone bars 26 producing musical sounds and the tones are carried from the cabinet by air circulat ed by the fan.

By this means an operator who knows the keys of a typewriter may produce musical selections without studying music.

From the foregoing specification it ent that the invention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for which it has been designed and in an economical manner, and that its simplicity, accuracy, and ease of operation are such as to provide a relatively inexpensive device considering what it will accomplish and that it will find an important place in the art to which it appertains when once placed on the market.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings.

Changes in shape, size, and arrangement of details and parts such as come within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having now described the invention that which is claimed to be new and desired to be procured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A musical instrument comprising a cabinet having upper and lower sections, the upper section having a transversely disposed partition and an adjustable dampening partition therein, tone producing bars freely mounted by cleats in the upper section of the cabinet and extended through the dampening partition therein, said tone producing bars being of different lengths, levers pivotally mounted in said transversely disposed partition and positioned whereby hammers on ends thereof strike the tone producwill become apparthrough freely to the tone bars.

2. In a musical instrument, the combination which comprises a cabinet having upper and lower sections and supporting legs extended from the lower section, the upper section having a transversely disposed and a dampening partition therein, bars freely mounted in the upper section and extended through slots in said dampening partition, means for adjusting the position of the dampening partition in relation to the bars, and levers having keys on I outer ends and hammers on inner ends pivotally mounted in said transversely disposed partition, the hammers being positioned to engage the bars and the bars being of difierent lengths, said keys being positioned to represent the keys of a typewriter keyboard, and a cover hinged to the upper section and positioned to extend over said keys.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 704,112 Robinson July 8, 1902 2,159,491 Rose May 23, 1939 2,279,143 Lohr Apr. 7, 1942 2,456,321 Rhodes Dec. 14, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 532,379 Great Britain Jan. 23, 1941 

